Hexagonal container for food products or the like

ABSTRACT

A carton for food products or the like of generally hexagonal shape formed from an integral blank of a foldable material such as paperboard. The carton is provided with a self-locking, foldable end closure which is connected to side panels of the carton and which comprises a pair of overlapping closure flaps hingedly connected to opposing side panels which lock in place when folded downwardly by the interaction of a pair of locking tabs and retaining flaps therefor. The locking tabs are provided on one of the closure flaps and the retaining flaps are provided on a pair of web means that are associated with the other of said closure flaps and each web means hingedly connected between the closure flap and a side panel adjacent to the side panel connected with the closure flap. An integral blank from which the carton can be erected is also disclosed.

[451 May 7,1974

[ HEXAGONAL CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE LIKE Thomas VanderLugt,Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Brown Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 119,593

[52] US. Cl 229/26, 229/8, 229/39 R, 229/41 C, 229/52 B [51] Int. ClB65d 5/34 [58] Field of Search 229/8, 37 R, 41 R, 41 C, 229/52 B, 24,25, 26, 38, 39 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,1036/1936 Rossi 229/41 C 2,933,232 4/1960 Bugnon 229/52 B 3,713,576 1/1973Goebel 229/8 2,031,806 2/1936 Weiss 229/41 C 2,828,904 4/1958 Mires etal..... 2.29/41 C 2,900,124 8/1959 Leone 229/52 B 3,014,637 12/1961Wilson 229/41 C 3,126,140 3/1964 Lizan et al. 229/41 C PrimaryExaminer-William 1. Price Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Gordon W. Hueschen [5 7] 1 ABSTRACT A carton for foodproducts or the like of generally hexagonal shape formed from anintegral blank of a foldable material such as paperboard. The carton isprovided with a self-locking, foldable end closure which is connected toside panels of the carton and which comprises a pair of overlappingclosure flaps hingedly connected to opposing side panels which lock inplace when folded downwardly by the interaction of a pair of lockingtabs and retaining flaps therefor. The locking tabs are provided on oneof the closure flaps and the retaining flaps are provided on a pair ofweb means that are associated with the other of said closure flaps andeach web means hingedly connected between the closure flap and a sidepanel adjacent to the side panel connected with the closure flap. Anintegral blank from which the carton can be erected is also disclosed.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUIM 7 I974 SHEEI 1 BF 4 INVENTOR.

mu, H w W m pwo w T m V s M. m

O Y HB PAIENTEDHAY 7 m4 SHEEI 2 BF 4 FIBAL INVENTOR. THOMAS VANDERLUGT JR.

PATENTEDHAY I 1974 SHEET 3 UF 4 INVENTOR. THOMAS VANDER LU GT JR.

FIG. 7

PATENTED m 1 m4 SHEEI l 0F 4 INVENTOR.

THOMAS VANDERLUGT JR.

HEXAGONAL CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This'invention relates to containers and, more particularly,to cartons for packaging foodstuffs and the like.

In many instances it is desirable to package foodstuffs and the like incanister or box-like containers that can be readily opened yet that arerecloseable if the contents thereof is not immediately consumed. Onetypical instance is the fast-food service establishments where aconsumer can purchase a pre-prepared meal such as fried chicken, forexample, in a carry-out container. At the same time, in large volumeoperations, it is desirable that unused cartons be collapsible forshipment and storage, yet the cartons must be readily erectable whenneeded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible, yetreadily erectable container which is formed from an integral blank of afoldable material and which is provided with a self-locking, foldableend closure.

It is a further object to provide a container with exposed peripheralsurfaces that are available for the display of promotional materials.

Still other objects will readily present themselves to one skilled inthe art upon reference to the ensuing specification, the drawings, andthe claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a cartonadapted to be erected from a unitary or integral blank and having sixhingedly connected side panels which together define a substantiallyhexagonal cross-section when the carton is erected. The carton may haveeither straight or tapered sides, depending on the intended use. Thepresent carton is provided with a self-locking foldable top end closurewhich is connected to the side panels and comprises first and secondclosure flaps, each hingedly connected to an opposing side panel andadapted to overlap when folded and a pair of web means associated witheach closure flap, each web means being hingedly connected between theclosure flap and the side panel adjacent to the side panel whichisconnected to the closure flap. A pair of outwardly extending lockingtabs are provided on opposing sides of the second closure flap and apair of locking tab retaining flaps are provided on the web meansassociated with the first closure flap.

Preferably, the closure flaps are hingedly connected to their respectiveside panels along a curved score line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a plan viewof an integral carton blank cut and scored so as to provide a carton ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 1 with the bottom endflaps folded inwardly;

. sequent erection;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an erected carton prior to closure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIG. 4 when closed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an integral carton blank similar to that shownin FIG. 1 but additionally provided with strengthening flaps adapted tobe folded inwardly over the closure flaps;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 6 with the bottom endflaps folded inwardly;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 completelyfolded and ready for gluing and subsequent erection;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a carton erected from the blank shown inFIGS. 6, 7, and 8 prior to closure; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIG. 9 when closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following descriptionreference will be made to the accompanying drawings for a betterunderstanding of this invention. In the drawings all parts are numbered,and the same numbers are used to identify the same parts in the severalFIGURES. Additionally, areas having an adhesive applied thereon areindicated by stippled shading.

Referring to FIG. 1, an integral carton blank 10 cut and scored so as toprovide a carton of the present invention comprises six side panels 11,12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 hingedly connected by means of creased score linesl7, l8, 19, 20 and 21. Glue flap 22 is provided alongside side panel 11and is hingedly connected thereto by creased score line 23. Adhesiveregion 24 on side panel 16 is adapted to contact and secure glue flap 22when blank 10 is folded over.

Closure flap 25 is hingedly connected to side panel 14 along creasedscore line 26 which is preferably curved so as to gain additional pullstrength. Closure flap 25 is also provided with locking tabs 27 and 28situated diametrically opposite each other along the sides of flap 25.Creased score lines 19 and 20 may be extended so as to traverse alsoflap 25 in order to facilitate the manipulation thereof; however, thisisoptional. Web means 29 and 30, preferably trapezoidal in shape, arealso associated with closure flap 25 and are hingedly connected by meansof creased score lines between flap 25 and side panels 13 and 15,respectively. Cut-outs 31 and 32 in flap 25 provide finger grip meansfor carrying the erected carton.

Another closureflap, flap 33 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5), is constructed upongluing from flap means 34 which constitutes a major portion thereof andis hingedly con- I nected to side panel 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) by creasedscore line 35 which is preferably curved. Web means 39 is hingedlyconnected between flap means 34 and side panel 12. If desired, creasedscore lines 17 and 23 may be extended so as to traverse flap means 34 ina manner similar to flap 25. Appendage 36 constitutes a minor portion offlap 33 and is hingedly connected to web means 37 along a creased scoreline. Web means 37, in turn, is hingedly connected to side panel 16 by acreased score line. Adhesive region 38 on appendage 36 is adapted tocontact and secure flap means 34 when blank is folded over. Appendage 36and flap means 34 when glued together form closure flap 33. Cut-outs 40and 41 in flap means 34 are adapted to be substantially coextensive withcut-outs 31 and 32 when blank 10 is folded over and provide finger gripmeans for carrying the erected carton.

Web means 37 and 39 are preferably triangular in shape, and are providedwith locking tab retainer means 42 and 43, respectively, along the freesides thereof, which retainer means are adapted to removably engagelocking tabs 28 and 27, respectively, thereby securing closure flap 25in a folded down position.

Bottom closure flaps 44, 45, .46, 47, 48 and 49 are hingedly connectedto respective side panels l1, 12, 13, 14, and 16. Flaps 45 and 48 areprovided with quadrilateral glue tabs 50 and 51 hingedly connectedthereto along lines of perforations. Flap 47 is provided with asubstantially trapezoidal glue tab 52 hingedly connected thereto along aperforated line. Preparatory to folding and gluing of the carton blank,bottom closure flaps 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are folded inwardly asshown in FIG. 2 with glue tabs 50, 51 and 52 folded back against theirrespective flaps thereby exposing the adhesive regions of these tabs.When blank 10 is folded over, glue tab 50 is adapted to contact andadhesively secure bottom closure flap 46, glue tab 51 is adapted tocontact and adhesively secure bottom closure flap 49, and glue tab 52 isadapted to contact and adhesively secure bottom closure flap 48. Withthe flaps and the respective tabs arranged in the foregoing manner thegluing can be effectively carried out on the socalled right-angle gluingmachine. A folded over and glued carton blank is shown in FIG. 3.

When it is desired to erect a carton from the folded over and gluedcarton blank, the outer edges thereof are simply pushed towards eachother whereupon the carton bottom automatically snaps in place and thecarton assumes the configuration shown in FIG. 4. The desired contentscan then be placed in the erected carton and closure effected by firstfolding down closure flap 33 and then closure flap 25 so that the fingergripping means of both flaps are in substantial registry and lockingtabs 27 and 28 snap under the respective locking tab retainer means 43and 42. The closed carton is shown in FIG. 5.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9and 10. In these FIGURES, the reference characters used in connectionwith the various parts are correlated to like parts shown in FIGS. 1through 5 by using the lOO-series of reference characters. That is, likeparts of carton blank 10 and carton blank 100 are designated byreference characters XX and IXX, respectively. For example, glue flap 22of blank 10 is similar to glue flap 122 of blank 100. Thus no furtherdescription of the like parts and their interaction is necessaryinasmuch as the foregoing description of blank 10 is equally applicableto blank 100.

tion of flap means 134 and closure flap 125 when folded thereover.Preferably at least portions of members 153 and 154 are covered with anadhesive and are adapted for adhesive affixation to flap means 134 andclosure so that openings 155 and 156 of member 153 are in substantialregistry with cut-outs and 141 and'so that openings 157 and 158 ofmember 154 are in substantial registry with cut-outs 131 and 132,respectively. Of course, the strengthening members such as 153 and 154need not be hingedly connected to flap means 134 and closure 125 but canalso be fabricated of a separate piece of paperboard or the like andthen adhesively affixed in place.

A The foregoing description and the drawings are intended asillustrative but are not to be construed as limiting. Still othervariations within the spirit and scope of this invention will readilypresent themselves to one skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A carton erected from a unitary blank of foldable sheet materialhaving six hingedly connected side panels defining a substantiallyhexagonal cross-sectional shape when completely erected, and aself-locking, foldable top end closure connected to said side panels andcomprising overlapping first and second closure flaps, each hingedlyconnected to an opposing side panel and adapted to overlap when folded;a pair of webs associated with each closure flap, each of said closureflaps having a pair of webs one on each side thereof, each of said websbeing hingedly connected at one edge to said closure flap and at theother edge to the side panel adjacent to the side panel connected tosaid closure flap; a pair of outwardly extending locking tabs providedon opposing sides of said second closure flap; and a pair of locking tabretaining flaps each hingedly connected at only one edge to one of thewebs hingedly connected to said first closure flap engaging andretaining said locking tabs when said top end closure is closed inplace.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein cut-outs are provided in each closureflap providing finger grip means.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein each closure flap is reinforced by anunderlying strengthening member.

4. The carton of claim 1 wherein said webs associated with the firstclosure flap are trapezoidal in shape with the longer base of thetrapezoid being connected to the first closure flap and said websassociated with the second closure flap are triangular in shape with thelongest side of the triangle being connected to said side panel.

5. The carton of claim 1 whereinthe closure flaps are hingedly connectedto the respective side panels along a curved score line.

6. An integral paperboard blank for a substantially hexagonal carton cutand scored to provide a series of six hingedly connected side panels, aclosure flap member constituting a major portion of a first closureflaphingedly connected to the first of said six side panels; a first webhingedly connected between said closure fiap member and the secondconsecutive side panel and provided with a hingedly connected lockingtab retaining flap, second closure flap hingedly connected to the fourthconsecutive side panel and provided with a pair of opposed, outwardlyextending locking tabs; a second web hingedly connected between saidsecond closure flap and the third consecutive side panel; a third webhingedly connected between said second closure flap and the fifthconsecutive side panel; a fourth web hingedly connected to the sixthconsecutive side panel; and a complementary closure flap memberconstituting a minor portion of said first closure flap hingedlyconnected to the fourth web; said fourth web being provided with alocking tab retaining flap hingedly connected thereto along a free sidethereof and situated between said sixth consecutive side panel and saidcomplementary closure flap member.

7. The blank of claim 6 wherein cut-outs are pro vided in the firstclosure flap member and in the second closure flap providing finger gripmeans.

8. The blank of claim 6 wherein the closure fiap score line.

1. A carton erected from a unitary blank of foldAble sheet materialhaving six hingedly connected side panels defining a substantiallyhexagonal cross-sectional shape when completely erected, and aself-locking, foldable top end closure connected to said side panels andcomprising overlapping first and second closure flaps, each hingedlyconnected to an opposing side panel and adapted to overlap when folded;a pair of webs associated with each closure flap, each of said closureflaps having a pair of webs one on each side thereof, each of said websbeing hingedly connected at one edge to said closure flap and at theother edge to the side panel adjacent to the side panel connected tosaid closure flap; a pair of outwardly extending locking tabs providedon opposing sides of said second closure flap; and a pair of locking tabretaining flaps each hingedly connected at only one edge to one of thewebs hingedly connected to said first closure flap engaging andretaining said locking tabs when said top end closure is closed inplace.
 2. The carton of claim 1 wherein cut-outs are provided in eachclosure flap providing finger grip means.
 3. The carton of claim 1wherein each closure flap is reinforced by an underlying strengtheningmember.
 4. The carton of claim 1 wherein said webs associated with thefirst closure flap are trapezoidal in shape with the longer base of thetrapezoid being connected to the first closure flap and said websassociated with the second closure flap are triangular in shape with thelongest side of the triangle being connected to said side panel.
 5. Thecarton of claim 1 wherein the closure flaps are hingedly connected tothe respective side panels along a curved score line.
 6. An integralpaperboard blank for a substantially hexagonal carton cut and scored toprovide a series of six hingedly connected side panels, a closure flapmember constituting a major portion of a first closure flap hingedlyconnected to the first of said six side panels; a first web hingedlyconnected between said closure flap member and the second consecutiveside panel and provided with a hingedly connected locking tab retainingflap, second closure flap hingedly connected to the fourth consecutiveside panel and provided with a pair of opposed, outwardly extendinglocking tabs; a second web hingedly connected between said secondclosure flap and the third consecutive side panel; a third web hingedlyconnected between said second closure flap and the fifth consecutiveside panel; a fourth web hingedly connected to the sixth consecutiveside panel; and a complementary closure flap member constituting a minorportion of said first closure flap hingedly connected to the fourth web;said fourth web being provided with a locking tab retaining flaphingedly connected thereto along a free side thereof and situatedbetween said sixth consecutive side panel and said complementary closureflap member.
 7. The blank of claim 6 wherein cut-outs are provided inthe first closure flap member and in the second closure flap providingfinger grip means.
 8. The blank of claim 6 wherein the closure flapmember and the second closure flap each are provided with astrengthening member hingedly connected thereto and adapted for foldingback against said closure flap member and said second closure flap,respectively.
 9. The blank of claim 6 wherein said first and fourth websare triangular in shape and said second and third webs are trapezoidalin shape.
 10. The blank of claim 6 wherein the closure flap member andthe second closure flap are hingedly connected to the respective sidepanels along a curved score line.